Compare towns
Lee vs Durham vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lee | Durham | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
10,681Highest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.